Near-mythical bird sadly found dead
A‘NEAR mythical’ bird from a species so rare it is only recorded in Britain once a year has been found dead – after it crashed into a window.
Birdwatcher Lawrence Dagnall has been told the White’s thrush was “one of the rarest bird sightings in recent history’’ – but had sadly it had been killed.
Painter and decorator Lawrence found the White’s thrush in a back garden in Dorset where he was working. It had not been seen in the county for more than 100 years, since Victorian times.
Named after naturalist Gilbert White, the birds are native to forests in Russia. But Lawrence, 62, found one over 3,000 miles away while working on a property in Weymouth.
The painter and decorator, a passionate bird watcher, contacted Portland Bird Observatory and showed them a photo.
He was told that the bird was actually an extremely rare White’s thrush.
Figure show it has been recorded in Britain on average just once a year since 1850.
One birdwatching site said: “While it’s an extremely rare bird to see anywhere in England, a White’s thrush sighting on the mainland is nearmythical.”
Lawrence, from Dorchester, Dorset, said: “I knew something was different and sure enough after showing the observatory they told me I’d been involved in one of the rarest bird sightings in recent history.
“I got on my bike and cycled back to the house, and scooped the bird up, putting him in a plastic bag.
“When I arrived at the observatory they couldn’t quite believe it.
“They told me that these birds visit the UK once every year at the mostand that’s usually in the Shetland Islands.”
However, the White’s thrush’s days in the UK were sadly numbered as it tragically smashed into a window and broke its neck.
“When they examined the bird they detected an impact injury from where it broke its neck by flying into the glass,” Lawrence added.
Portland Bird Observatory have kept hold of the bird and are hoping to get it into a museum, but for now it remains in a storage freezer on site.